AT&T has change of heart about VoIP over 3G for the iPhone

Reversing a long-standing policy that prohibited VoIP applications on the …

Apple and AT&T have had an agreement since the launch of the App Store that limited VoIP applications to WiFi networks. But AT&T has now reversed that policy, announcing that VoIP apps on the iPhone are now welcome to operate over the carrier's 3G wireless broadband network. The change comes just a day after Vonage announced the availability of its own VoIP application that works over both WiFi and 3G networks.

"iPhone is an innovative device that dramatically changed the game in wireless when it was introduced just two years ago," said AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega in a statement. "Today's decision was made after evaluating our customers' expectations and use of the device compared to dozens of others we offer."

Those expectations included being able to use VoIP applications, like Skype, over cellular data connections, since such capability has been available on other phones on AT&T's network. "Since launching our iPhone application six months ago, people have downloaded and installed Skype on 10 percent of all iPhone and iPod touch devices sold—making it clear that people are extremely interested in taking Skype conversations with them on the go," wrote Skype president Josh Silverman in a statement. "All of us at Skype applaud today's announcement by AT&T that it'll open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. It's the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skype users, and the Internet itself."

Criticisms have been leveled at AT&T for similarly blocking streaming video apps like SlingPlayer from using 3G on the iPhone while allowing them on other smartphones—or even allowing select apps, like YouTube, to stream video over 3G connections. However, an AT&T spokesperson confirmed to Ars that the change announced today is limited strictly to VoIP.

AT&T also announced that Apple and the FCC has been informed of its change in policy. The change may have implications for the current FCC investigation into the rejection (or continued evaluation, depending on your point of view) of the Google Voice app, though AT&T was not involved in the decision to block Google Voice.

The change also aligns nicely with proposed rules regarding network neutrality that FCC chairman Julius Genachowski hopes to cement into meaningful telecom regulation. Both de la Vega and Genachowski are scheduled to give keynote speeches tomorrow at the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2009 convention in San Diego this week.

Further reading:

You can read AT&T's official filing with the FCC announcing the policy change